Run-down Mayfair pub now one of UK’s most expensive properties

The disused Red Lion pub in the exclusive Mayfair area of London is now a luxury home worth £25 million.

The dingy building has been transformed into a five-bedroom family home, complete with underfloor heating, a swimming pool, gym and cinema.

The Red Lion was closed down in 2009 and stood empty until property developers bought the building and launched a renovation project with inspiration from Grand Designs, a TV show on Channel 4.

Although some of the property was demolished, the original façade of the Red Lion was retained, and was painted a brilliant white. The original site had 4,200 square feet of space, but with the addition of two floors beneath ground level, the area now covers 9,500 square feet. The renovated property, which is now called Red Lion House, has two roof terraces and four reception rooms, along with eight bathrooms.

The home is within walking distance of Michelin-starred restaurants and five-star hotels and is being sold through estate agents Wetherell. According to the company’s managing director, Peter Wetherell, the transformation is a perfect demonstration of how a neglected building can become an outstanding family home.

Larger properties often have an installation of underfloor heating to keep energy costs as low as possible and to effectively heat a large space. Red Lion House is now 150 times more expensive than the average property in England and Wales, which makes it one of the priciest in the UK.